Selling art when you are downsizing
- Every request is reviewed by a licensed appraiser
- Free, no obligation
- Answer within 72 hours
- Sellers worldwide, US-based team
A move shrinks the wall space before it shrinks the collection. Selling well takes a few weeks, so it helps to start the conversation before the move date is close.
Start early
From consignment to sale is commonly 6 to 12 weeks, and payment follows after the buyer has paid. If the move date is fixed, tell us at the start.
Decide what stays
- Pick the works you want in the new home first
- Photograph everything else, front, signature and back
- Do not give away or discard anything that has a signature
Single works or the whole collection
For one or two works, the free estimate form is quickest. For a larger group, request a call and a specialist will phone you within 48 hours to discuss timing and options.
This page is general information about selling art, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by state and by estate, so check anything involving ownership, taxes or court approval with the estate’s attorney or accountant.
Free auction estimate
Send photos of the artwork for a free auction estimate.
Speak with a specialist about your collection
For ten or more works, a conversation is often quicker than forms. Leave your number and the best time, and someone from ArtSell will call you within 48 hours to talk through the collection and your options. Free, with no obligation to sell.
Prefer to write? Send photos or an inventory for a collection review →
How selling at auction works
- Send photos for a free estimate. A photo of the front, plus the signature, the back and any labels if you can. Add the size and anything you know about where the work came from.
- Get an auction estimate. A specialist compares the work with recorded auction results and replies with an estimate range: what the work could reasonably bring at auction, not a guarantee or a formal appraisal.
- Agree terms and a reserve. If you decide to sell, you sign a consignment agreement that sets the commission, any fees and the reserve (the confidential minimum price below which the work will not sell).
- Ship or hand over the work. The work goes to the house for inspection, cataloguing and photography. Condition and authorship are checked before it is offered.
- The sale. The work is offered in a scheduled sale, online or in the room. Buyers pay a buyer’s premium on top of the hammer price; that is the buyer’s cost, not yours.
- Get paid. After the buyer pays, the house settles with you: the hammer price minus the seller’s commission and any agreed fees.
Typical timeline
- Estimate: usually a few days after you send photos.
- Consignment to sale: commonly 6–12 weeks, because houses build sales around themes and seasons and need time to catalogue and market each lot.
- Payment: usually about 30–35 days after the sale, once the buyer has paid.
What selling costs
- Seller’s commission: a percentage of the hammer price. At many houses it falls roughly between 10% and 25%, often lower for higher-value works, and it is frequently negotiable.
- Possible fees: some houses charge for photography, insurance, shipping or an unsold-lot fee. Ask which apply before you sign.
- Buyer’s premium: paid by the buyer on top of the hammer price. Prices in our results include it where the house publishes it.
Questions
How long does it take to sell art at auction?
Commonly 6 to 12 weeks from consignment to sale, and about 30 to 35 days more until the seller is paid.
Can I sell part of my collection?
Yes. You choose which works to sell and which to keep.
What if I leave before it sells?
Tell us your dates in your first message. You sign a consignment agreement before anything is offered for sale.
More for estates, heirs and collectors
- How to sell a large art collection
- I inherited artwork. How do I sell it?
- Selling an estate art collection
- Selling inherited art and estate collections (guide)
- Sell your collection: free review for 10 or more works
- Request a call about your collection
Seller guides
How to sell art at auctionWhat’s my art worth?Sell a paintingSell a printSell a sculptureSelling inherited art and estatesHow to photograph art for an estimateAppraisal vs. auction estimateWhere to sell artArt appraisal for insuranceHow to sell a painting you inheritedIs my print worth anything?What is my painting worth?Is my painting valuable?Original or print?How to read a signatureAuction vs. gallery vs. onlineSell your collection (10+ works)I inherited artwork: how to sell itSelling an estate art collectionHow to sell a large art collectionSpeak with a specialist about your collection